Bangladesh stun Sri Lanka to reach final

Debutant teenager Rubel Hossain claimed four wickets and Shakib Al Hasan scored an unbeaten 92 to send Bangladesh into the tri-series ODI tournament final with a surprise five-wicket defeat of Sri Lanka.

The hosts needed to win the fog-delayed, reduced-overs game inside 24.5 overs for a bonus point victory to finish ahead of Zimbabwe and set up a rematch with the Sri Lankans in Friday's decider.

Sri Lanka, whose progress was assured thanks to Monday's 130-run victory over Zimbabwe, were totally helpless against Shakib's 92 off just 69 balls that avoided an exit on net run rate or head-to-head with an over to spare.

Bangladesh made a shaky start after bowling their opponents out for 147, losing their first three wickets for just 11 runs.

After openers Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddique were run out and one-down Mushfiqur Rahim added just one run, Shakib brought the innings back on track with a 91-run stand along side skipper Mohammad Ashraful, who contributed 26 runs.

Shakib, who also made 52 runs in the 38-run opening match loss to Zimbabwe, took 45 balls to reach his tenth one-day fifty in an innings that contained ten fours and two sixes.

Naeem Islam then struck Ajantha Mendis for four and six in successive balls over mid-off and long-on to give Bangladesh only their second ODI victory over Sri Lanka in 25 matches.

The debuting Hossain's four wickets and three more from Mashrafe Mortaza had earlier set up the win after fog delayed play for more than three hours and reduced the series' final league game to 31 overs each.

Sri Lanka started terribly when opener Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara were dismissed by Mortaza for naught.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene recovered with a 71-run stand for the third wicket before Jayawardene, who failed to score in his last three games, went for 28.

Mortaza claimed his third wicket when he sharply caught and bowled Jayasuriya, who struck seven boundaries to make 54 off 64 balls for his 67th ODI half-century.

The 19-year old right-arm pacer Rubel, who has a sling-shot action, mopped up the tail as Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 23 runs with three balls to spare.

His return of 4-33 was the best performance by a debutant for Bangladesh.